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He’s a stranger, really

And he probably has a girlfriend

And I live five thousand round whatever deep-seated fantasies

After a little while, the place started getting crowded and hot and loud I kept getting knocked and bu me how out-of-place I felt in that world His world Then a sweaty littlelike he’s been living in Ireland a while--dropped his arm around my shoulder toThe moment I stood, the croed my spot up and pushed me out

So I just left

I didn’t even think to leave a tip

Now I h narrow old streets lined with shops and pubs, thruthat, until thishonest withthe conversation over and over, chastisingI had asked a dozen other questions that have nothing to do with the day of the attack and everything to do with getting to know hi about the attack wasn’t important--quite the opposite, in fact Those few hushed moments, when River leaned in close, his undivided attention onme the chance to speak out loud about it for the first tihter now

A howl of laughter to roup of friends in their early twenties I can’t tell if they’re tourists or locals but they’re definitely drunk, one of the guys nearly knocking over a floral planter as they spill out of a pub Then again, this is the Temple Bar area and I’ve been told that no local with any common sense would co, as I have occasionally, that I weren’t ood fortune that I do, though, of being able to just leave their jobs for four et back I’d like to think that a lot of that leeway has come on account of my stellar perforthere as well helps

I ain, where a new round of perfor knives, a bikini-clad wo on a bodhran The ladycatches my eyes and I decide that I definitely need those sunflowers

I fish throughand dis the bristles of my brush, a s it up wide, peering inside

My stomach drops as the realization hits et blown up by a bo" Jesse’s cool, bored tone fills ht now Even when he’sbad jokes

"Three hundred euro And my license And my bank card" That’s two strikes I don’t want to find out what the third may be Ireland is officially a bust I should just pack up and leave

"But not your passport or your credit cards or any plane tickets or--"

"Since when did you becoh Thank God I wrapped alland stuck it into the fireplace Because Sheriff Gabe Welles always knows best

Metal clangs in the background, telling ines as usual It’s after two pht hours behind Dublin time, and five hours since I realizedto smy dad would somehow be able to help me, even from thousands of miles away "Where’s the Sheriff?"